Analysts said that the big losers in this outcome, and the composition of the new National Assembly (Parliament) were the political parties due to the crisis of credibility they are going through, as shown by the fact that the ruling organization, the Democratic Revolutionary Party, was left with just 12 seats out of 35, nine of which were re-elected.

According to the distribution of seats in the NA, 13 belong to “Realizando Metas” – Achieving Goals, whose standard bearer, Jose Raul Mulino, was ratified on Sunday by the TE as president-elect of the Republic.

There are further eight lawmakers who belong to the “Panameñista” Party and the same number to “Cambio Democratico” – Democratic Change as well as four who belong to the “Movimiento Otro Camino” – In Other Way Movement, two are members of the “Alianza” – Alliance, two of the Popular Party and one of the Liberal Republican Nationalist Movement.

Among the independent parliamentarians, 19 are part of the “Vamos” – Let’s Go coalition, led by current MPs Juan Diego Vasquez and Gabriel Silva, and supported by the iconic singer-songwriter Ruben Blades.

On this popular will, Vasquez – who did not seek re-election – indicated that at the polls the people spoke loud and clear about the need for change in the Assembly.

‘God first, there will be more good people in the Assembly. Hopefully, those I don’t have the pleasure of knowing, elected by all political parties, will get to work and understand what the people said with their vote,’ he remarked.

The average age of this new bloc of independent MPs is 37, while of the 60 who sought re-election, only 13 (21%) succeeded, according to unofficial reports.

omr/jha/ga